Feminism

The seventh night of Hanukkah coincides with Rosh Hodesh Tevet. While the new moon and new month has long been associated with women, Tevet is extra special. 

In North Africa, Greece and Turkey, Jewish communities celebrate this special night with Chag HaBanot (Festival of the Daughters). It’s the day Esther was taken to Ahasuerus’s palace in the Purim story and it’s when we honor the heroism of Judith in the story of Hanukkah. On Chag HaBanot, women and girls across generations gather to give gifts, enjoy sweets, sing and to pass inheritances from one generation to the next. 

Here are some ways to celebrate Chag HaBanot with the women in your life.

- As you light the menorah, take a moment to think of the women who have been an influence on your life. Send them light and love.

- Enjoy a festive meal or special treat. 

- Sing and dance. Whether traditional Hanukkah songs or a playlist of your favorite women artists, Chag HaBanot is a time for rejoicing! 

- Connect with your mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends, partners and neighbors. Start with women, then invite people of all genders to celebrate with you.